research

**AimsRJ** · 15-08-2008, 02:37 PM

Another question from me....

It is my ultimate aim to get into medical research alongside a clinical career. When I went to the GEP open day last month Dr Dennis said that 'a high proprotion of students on the GEP course go into research positions at the end of their 4 years'. Does anyone know what this means? Are they a research afiilliated FY1 position or pure research? I was under the impression that to go into clinical research you needed to do your foundation years first. Or is this for people that was a pure research career and dont do any clinical? Does anyone know the difference at that (or indeed later) stage in terms of income?

Many Thanks

Amy

**Pammy** · 17-08-2008, 04:28 PM

Hi there!
I'm starting on the Oxford GEP next month, and when I applied, read in the prospectus that they don't want people who want to be just scientists (as opposed to doctors who also do research)...I guess that would be quite a waste of 4 years of study when most people who enter the course already are scientists...! However, I did get the feeling (could be subjective though as I come from a research background and hence could talk about it) that they encourage people to do some research. I've investigated the "academic" route, and yes, you need to do F1/F2, but a "special" academic F1 and F2 (ideally, although it's possible to go into clinical research after doing "normal" F1/F2). Google "academic F1" and you'll find lots of info - means there are some academic (research) rotations that are interspersed with the clinical rotations. Later, you can apply for clinical fellowships (which also allow you to do a PhD if you don't have one yet) and then...best case outcome!...clinical lectureships :-) The clinical payscale is higher than the "normal" science academic payscale (I think...I don't really care).
Hope this answers some of the questions...I wonder whether that comment on the open day came across wrongly, as in the prospectus they definitely said they want to educate doctors not pure scientists!

**AimsRJ** · 17-08-2008, 04:47 PM

Hi Pammy,

Thanks for getting back to me. Yeah that is what they say in the prospectus. In fairness to Dr Dennis I misquoted him above the comment was that a higher proportion of oxford grads compared to other unis went into research- not directly that 'a high proportion' do this.
I REALLY want to get into Oxford. I dont have a PhD which I know wont help but the prospectus does say that 50% of their GEP students dont. I do have a 1st in my degree. Anything you think might help me would be wonderful to know!
Thanks

**booji** · 20-09-2008, 03:19 AM

Hi AimsRJ,

I was an Oxford GEP admit last year as well and I didn't have a PhD. In fact I just had bachelors degrees and I was coming from the US. When I met a lot of the fellow invitees, I did feel a little intimidated since I wasn't a PhD nor a masters student, but in the end it did work out. Just wow them at your interview with your motivations to study medicine and I am sure it will take you far (ooh and prep on your basic science as well - I didn't even know that there would be content based interviews till I got there and they were asking me about genetic inheritance patterns that I had learned like over 6 years before)

**Pammy** · 24-09-2008, 11:43 AM

Hi Booji!

Just wanted to say congrats on getting into Harvard (though I don't envy your tuition fees...) - I did an undergrad summer research project at the med school there a while back and lived with two med students who seemed to have a very good time! So, hope you enjoy it :-)
Pammy

**booji** · 24-09-2008, 07:43 PM

Hi Pammy,

Thanks! Oh it really is a blast here (about 1.5 months into the curriculum already :-)) Boston is amazing as well. Have you started at Oxford yet?